Peter Carlisle

Registered Psychologist
BBSc, GradDipAppPsych

Peter has been a registered psychologist since 2007 and has been working within a clinical counselling role since 2004. His professional career commenced within a private clinical setting providing assessment, diagnosis and treatment to a broad range of clients including adolescents, adults and couples. Peter then commenced a group facilitator role within Mitcham Private Victoria Court Psychiatric Unit in 2011 and became full time in 2012 due his enjoyment of facilitating client growth and self-awareness in a group setting. After working in the hospital for over a year Peter started at DS Psychology to return to his passion of working with clients individually.

Peter conducts therapy within an integrative framework. Peter’s main passion and objective for the clients he sees are for them to live more value-based and meaningful lives, therefore within therapy he focuses on 2 main things: 1st- Values and taking steps in the direction of what makes our hearts sing, and 2nd- Identifying and overcoming the obstacles that get in the way of doing just that. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is based on these principles and resonates strongly with Peter’s therapeutic (and personal) philosophy. Especially it’s perspective on our struggles as being normal (albeit unhelpful) as opposed to a sign of being broken. Importantly Peter aims to get clients ‘unstuck’ and living again with vitality and purpose. Peter also understands that a significant source of meaning and connection (and distress) comes through our experience with others. Therefore he utilises Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) to help people recognise and respond to the major interpersonal challenges and to provide tools for dealing with conflicts and communication difficulties.

Within ACT and IPT Peter also integrates the practical tools from Problem Solving Therapy through having seen how getting a sense of control, competence and direction back in our lives helps us immeasurably and uses the rich theoretical foundations of Schema Therapy to help identify and challenge the patterns that can emerge from consistent toxic messages from our upbringing. Finally the practical tools from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy are drawn on to help with self-soothing, emotional regulation and training in setting appropriate boundaries (for difficult, overwhelming situations and emotions).

Peter sees counselling as an opportunity to facilitate unconditional self, other and life acceptance, to help clients let go of struggling with how things should be, and the things we can’t control, so we can be freed up to control how we want to respond and be who we are.

Peter is currently available for evening appointments.